Seventeen. The magic number, apparently. One backyard, one clear night, 1100 square feet, and seventeen kids. No, this is not a commercial announcement for a crazy new reality TV show, though maybe it ought to be. No, this time I didn’t “just say no”. I said yes – to… count ’em… seventeen sleeping in my […]
Report Card
It’s approaching the end of the school year, and as my son prepares for a variety of exams and final papers, I think about the report card. Not his. Mine. As he continues his last push toward graduation, I find myself wondering what sort of marks I would receive as his parent. Of course, I […]
Why the Early Bird Doesn’t Always Get the Worm
“Out of bed now,” I say, though he isn’t on the bed. As usual. He’s on the couch, where he works on the computer, where he interacts with friends on Facebook, where he watches television then studies a few hours more, where eventually – he sleeps. I take in the beauty of him as he […]
Lost Keys
It was about ten days ago. The phone call. He had forgotten or misplaced his key. Again. I took a deep breath, dropped what I was doing, and went to the rescue. Again. I’ve been told repeatedly not to stress over the fact that my son loses his keys, and I’m constantly running to the […]
Scrambled Eggs and Spinach Salad
You know those days that start out routinely, and then one little thing in the schedule goes awry? Oh, nothing ominous mind you – but my writing was kidnapped. My breakfast (such as it is) was waylaid. Every email, every phone call, every errand – sacrificed on the lunatic alter of What-Else-Could-Move-At-A-Snail’s-Pace. Ah, but there […]
Women on Top?
What’s your position? Women on top? A little variation and taking turns, or better yet – anything goes as long as the fit feels appropriate? Ah, but it isn’t so straightforward if you find yourself stuck in the middle – of middle management, that is. Especially if you’re trying to wriggle your way out, then […]
Realizations
It’s really happening. It’s really happening. I say it over and over. In my head. In disbelief. And I say this, as I have lived it: Opportunity comes to those who work. I’m tired. I’m distracted. The chair is large and my feet are dangling which is annoying. I want to laugh at the same […]
Time on Your Hands?
Spare time? Are you kidding? What do you do when your friends or partners can take time off, and you simply can’t? When your schedule is bursting at the seams, even on the weekends? What if you feel like there’s never time to catch up, to take stock, to plan productively, much less to snooze, […]
Flop House
I tripped over shoes in the living room. It was dark, and the shoes didn’t belong to either of my sons. This is not new. The body on the couch was longer and broader than usual, mumbling good morning as I covered him with a fallen comforter and went to my younger son’s room and […]
How to Help When You Have No Words
When comforting our children feels next to impossible.